Five years ago New Mexico United burst onto the scene in the USL. Now, they get to be the club to greet another newcomer. United’s first road test of the season comes on Saturday when they travel to participate in the inaugural match for Rhode Island FC.
Although it will be a much smaller affair than United’s inaugural, Rhode Island FC has announced that they are expecting a capacity crowd at Beirne Stadium in Providence Rhode Island. Home to the Bryant Bulldogs, RIFC will be sharing the space until their own facility is finished. First year head coach Khano Smith can only hope that the club he’s built will be ready for their debut.
As a club, Rhode Island comes into the season with a lot of hope and a lot of veteran faces. Plenty of them will be familiar to United, particularly through the midfield and the defense. Rhode Island’s leadership took advantage of the end of San Diego Loyal to bring in some quality players as well as poached some of the best talent in the Eastern Conference. Among the faces that will be seen for the new club are Koke Vegas, Grant Stoneman, Conor McGlynn, and Golden Boot winner Albert Dikwa.
Not much is known about what formations Smith likes to run, but it is believed that they are likely to run a 4-3-3 with Dikwa, if healthy, up top. Koke Vegas will mind the net while other veteran faces will fill in the space between. Nerves will be there, despite the level of experience this club has. Any time new players come together, there will be growing pains and a lack of cohesion at times. Make no mistake though, this team is coming to play.
Player to Watch
Albert Dikwa – Provided that he’s fit for Saturday, the reigning Golden Boot winner brings plenty of goal-scoring experience with him to Providence. Coming off of a 20-goal season, Dikwa is clearly the frontrunner to lead this new club.
United is no stranger to firsts. Nor are they strangers to being on the road. This match presents some unique challenges though. United faces one of the longest road trips of the year in only week two and after they face another east coast trip to Charleston. This is where the experience of the veterans can make a big difference.
Despite getting significantly younger as a club, United has a wealth of experience at the back. Captain Kalen Ryden and Alex Tambakis will be crucial in keeping RIFC off the score sheet. They’ll have to watch the right side where Arturo Astorga will likely be attacked throughout the match. Astorga performed well against Pittsburgh, but that could still be an opening for the wide attack from Rhode Island. If United can keep their formation and rotate well across the back, they can counter what the new club wants to do.
On the attacking end, United supports will be happy with the result and the play of Greg Hurst. But there’s still plenty of work to do. While there were attempts on goal throughout the opener, the team will tell you that they have more to do. Goals were hard to come by in the preseason, but United found gaps in the five-at-the-back of Pittsburgh and will look to find spaces for Hurst to cut through again this weekend. Against Rhode Island though, that attack may be more varied instead of through the center.
Player to Watch
Talen Maples – One of the last players to sign in the offseason, Maples had a strong showing in the opener. If he’s in the back again on Saturday, he could be a strong counterpart to Ryden and be great at securing the back.
Saturday’s match is scheduled for a 2 pm (MDT) kickoff from Beirne Stadium. The match will be broadcast live on ESPN+ nationally and on YouTube for international viewers.
